Two female journalists killed in Iraqi Kurdistan by Turkish drone

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— A drone strike in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region killed two Kurdish female journalists, identified by media rights organizations as Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn from Sterk TV. Rebin Bakir from CHATR Media Company was also seriously injured in the attack.

The attack has sparked a wave of accusations and condemnations, with fingers pointed at Turkey, whose military has a significant presence in the area due to ongoing operations against Kurdish PKK fighters.

The incident took place in Sayyid Sadiq, a district located to the east of Sulaimani, the second-largest city in the Kurdistan region.

An Iraqi security official, speaking anonymously, informed AFP that the drone was likely operated by the Turkish military, targeting a vehicle carrying the journalists.

The security official’s claim was met with a strong denial from Ankara, where the Turkish defense ministry stated, “It was not the Turkish army” responsible for the strike.

In Erbil, the regional capital, the counter-terrorism service aligned with the Barzani family, which has close ties with the Turkish government and opposes the PKK, reported that the drone strike had targeted a vehicle belonging to fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The service claimed that the attack resulted in the deaths of a PKK official, his driver, and another fighter. However, contrasting reports from officials in Sulaimani region, which is under the control of the Talabani family, identified the victims as journalists rather than combatants.

Karouan Anwar, head of the Sulaimani journalists’ union, confirmed that the two women killed were well-known journalists who had been actively working in the media industry.

Kamal Hama Ridha, the director of CHATR, a Kurdish media production company, also verified that the deceased were employed by his organization. Ridha identified one of the journalists as a resident of Sulaimani province, while the other was a Kurd from Turkey.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with the Kurdistan region’s deputy prime minister, Qubad Talabani, describing the incident as an “unjustifiable crime” and a blatant infringement on Iraqi sovereignty.

Talabani emphasized that the victims were not members of any armed group and posed no threat to the security and stability of the region or any other country. He strongly condemned the strike, urging for accountability.

The PKK, which has been engaged in a long-running insurgency against the Turkish state, maintains dozens of military bases in the mountainous regions of northern Iraq.

Turkey, in response, has established a network of military outposts in the Kurdistan region as part of its campaign against the PKK. This ongoing conflict has led to heightened tensions in the region, with civilian casualties being an unfortunate byproduct.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a recent escalation in Turkey’s military operations in Iraq. Earlier this month, Turkey and Iraq signed a military cooperation agreement aimed at combating the PKK, including joint training and the establishment of command centers.

The federal Iraqi government, following a visit from Turkish officials, officially declared the PKK a “banned organization” in March 2024.

The killing of the journalists has prompted a swift response from various Kurdish organizations and human rights groups in Turkish Kurdistan.

The Human Rights Association (IHD), in a strongly worded statement, condemned the drone strike as a continuation of efforts to silence Kurdish media voices.

The IHD drew parallels with the violent repression of Kurdish media in the 1990s, when disappearances and bombings targeted journalists and newspaper offices.

The association labeled the attack a “massacre of journalists” and called on the Iraqi government, the Republic of Turkey, and the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The IHD also urged for an independent investigation into the attack, stressing the importance of protecting free media.

Similarly, the Women’s Assembly of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) issued a statement denouncing the attack as a deliberate and coordinated effort to suppress Kurdish journalists.

The DEM Party argued that the attack was intended to obscure the war crimes being committed in the Kurdistan region and to further Turkey’s annexation and occupation policies.

The assembly highlighted the role of the two slain journalists in exposing these atrocities, asserting that their deaths were part of a broader attempt to silence dissent and stifle international criticism.

The PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish government in 1984, advocating for increased autonomy for Kurds in Turkey. Despite the Kurdish minority’s significant presence, numbering over 22.5 million out of Turkey’s 84 million people, the government does not recognize their constitutional rights. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

The PKK focuses its attacks on Turkish military and government security targets while aiming to minimize civilian harm. Many Kurds both in Turkey and internationally express support for the PKK.

(With files from AFP | ANF)